University News

New York Times Co. Executive Named VP for Communications
For release: May 17, 2007
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Dr. Shirley C. Raines, president of the University of Memphis, has announced that Robert H. (Bob) Eoff has been chosen to fill the newly created office of Vice President for Communications, Public Relations, and Marketing. He will officially begin those duties on August 20.

Eoff comes to the University from the New York Times Company, where, since 2004, he has been president of the NYT Broadcast Media Group, overseeing nine network-affiliated television stations and their Web sites. He has been with the company since 1969, when he began working for WREG, Channel 3, the CBS affiliate in Memphis. Eoff worked his way up through the company, serving successively as promotions director at WREG, vice president of operations for WREG, then president and general manager of sister station KFSM in Fort Smith and Fayetteville, Ark., then back to WREG as its president and general manager.

In 2000 he was named divisional vice president of the New York Times Company’s Broadcast Media Group, with responsibility for operations at four of the Group’s stations. From that post, he moved to the presidency of the Group. He retired from the New York Times Co. earlier this year.

Eoff is a 1971 graduate of Memphis State University, where he received his B.A. degree in radio-television, advertising, sales, and management. He has participated in graduate programs at the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College and at other professional programs at Columbia University and with Duke University.

“With Bob Eoff’s appointment,” said Dr. Raines, “we have added a leader with great expertise, talent, and experience to orchestrate the communications, marketing, and public relations endeavors of the University of Memphis. As a distinguished graduate of this University, his enthusiasm and past volunteer work for the U of M is well known. Bob has accepted the challenge of further enhancing our image and reputation. He will help lead our distinguished University of Memphis to become one of America’s great destination universities for students, staff, and faculty.”

“The University has long been an important part of our community and region,” Eoff said. “Now, I believe that we have the opportunity to truly become one of the nation’s leading universities for scholarly research, innovative community partnerships, culture and artistic expression, as well as outstanding collegiate athletics.

“I look forward to leading the University’s creative team that will tell the stories of the students, the professors, the alumni – the entire University of Memphis.”